Good News for Tri Fans

Mexico's got a series of heavyweights lined up for friendlies in the run-up to the World Cup: Italy, Holland, England, and eight other contests (with Portugal possibly among them). I'm not certain, but I don't remember a slate anything close to as ambitious heading into the 2006 Cup. Twelve games seems like a bunch, and has provoked some concern among Mexican soccer's chattering classes, but Uruguay and France shouldn't seem like much of a step up after facing off with three of Europe's best.

The US, thus far, has a game scheduled with the Netherlands as well, but that's the only upcoming friendly according to the US Soccer website.